Arena Bomb victim Saffie-Rose Roussos' parents say writing book about her lifted them
The parents of Saffie-Rose Roussos say that writing a book about her life has helped them move forward after their daughter was killed during the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017.
Speaking to Granada Reports they told presenter Vicky Grimes that though it was one of the hardest things they've ever had to face, they felt they had to do it to present the 'true picture' of the daughter they loved.
They believe she is too often just remembered as the 'youngest victim' of the Arena Bombing.
Andrew Roussos said: "She was a larger than life character, and we embraced throughout the years her being the youngest victim, because she was, she was the baby of it all.
"But as a parent we want to move forward with that because she's much more than that and it was a relief to have the opportunity to explain who Saffie is throughout the book.
"And we had a message off somebody, we were talking to somebody... and she says I've read the book, incredible book, but its like a love letter to Saffie."
Saffie's mum Lisa added: "That's the reaction we want isn't it, we want Saffie's character to come through in the book."
Saffie-Rose was one of 22 people killed when a terrorist detonated a bomb after an Ariane Grande concert at Manchester Arena on 22 May 2017, leaving hundreds injured, amongst them Saffie's mum Lisa and sister Ashlee.
So severe were Lisa's injuries that doctors gave her just a 15 percent chance of survival as she lay in a coma for eight days.
All that time Andrew knew that once she awoke he would have to tell her the devastating news.
Lisa recalled: "I remember thinking when Andrew told me about Saffie, I just couldn't deal with it, so I thought to myself I need to put that away because I can't deal with that because of how badly injured I was.
"I felt I had to get physically well, or better, before I could even try to begin to understand what's happened.
"So I sort of put that away, and the staff and everybody at Wythenshawe Hospital were just so amazing, they cared for us, they looked after us, they became our family.
"And they became people that we trusted in our lives. They just do amazing work. We'll be forever grateful for every thing they did for us."
But despite their own traumatic experiences they also have time to remember other victims of terror attacks like the parents of the children killed and injured in the stabbings in Southport, and they say they want the book to give them hope too.
Lisa said: "Its just devastating, my heart breaks for them. But there really is hope.
"There really is and just hang on in there, its a tough journey but there is hope."
Andrew agreed, adding, "Its is a tough journey, it is.
"Somehow you find yourself..somehow you find yourself til tomorrow and before you know it the days go.
"It is horrendous, it is. Along the way you will meet people that will just lift you slightly, and just help you along the way."
Lisa said, "Just surround yourself with people that you love and trust.
"I'd like to give them a hug from one mum to another."
In the aftermath of the attack Andrew became aware that Ariane Grande herself was being criticised by some sections of the media, and he decided he had to meet her to tell her that, as the father of one of the victims, he was there to help her too.
"I thought it was wrong, I thought the way the press handled it ... I think she was 21 at the time.. that it was wrong and I just wanted to reach out and hold her hand and say how much she meant to Saffie, and what you did coming to Manchester to sing, this is not your fault.
"All your guards are down, you're crying, you're just hugging each other, trying to make sense of it all.
"But at the same time she needed to know 'This is not your fault', cos she can't carry that on her for the rest of her life."
The family now live in the West Country, but they say that the people of the North West will forever live in their hearts for the outpouring of grief and sympathy that followed the atrocity, and they say they'll never get over the depth of care shown by the medical staff who cared for the family.
Though they say they have been able to move on to a degree, in part because of the cathartic effect of writing the book, they still keep a room for Saffie in their new home to help keep her memory alive for other family members. They stress that its not a shrine, but a living space for other family members like their granddaughter.
Looking back on their beloved daughter Andrew and Lisa say they want her to be remembered not just as another victim of terrorism but as the special little girl she was, loving, lively with a zest for life.
Lisa said, "For her bubbly, beautiful nature that she was, for her love she had for everything in life and everyone."
Andrew said his thoughts are slightly different, taking in the touching picture of his daughter on the front of the book, "I'm going to answer that in a different way.
"We chose that picture for a reason, just look at that face.
"I remember her for that, that's Saffie."
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